Join us on Sunday, 6 April from 16:30 to 18:00 for the high-level roundtable "Legislating for Land" on the margins of the 150^th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly. We will address he role of parliamentarians in promoting secure tenure rights and equitable access to land. 

During the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union taking place from 5-9 April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is convening a high-level roundtable "Legislating for Land" to strengthen parliamentary engagement in its governing processes and advancing the implementation of the Convention—the sole legally binding treaty on land signed by 196 countries and the European Union. 

As one of the three Rio Conventions alongside climate and biodiversity, UNCCD focuses on promoting sustainable land management, building drought resilience, enhancing soil health, and advancing secure land tenure rights and equitable access to land. Parliamentarians play a crucial role in shaping land policies, ensuring equitable access, and fostering sustainable land management. Their influence extends across:

• Legislation: Drafting, debating and passing laws that impact land use, environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture
• Budgeting: Allocating financial resources for initiatives addressing desertification, land degradation and drought resilience
• Advocacy: Raising awareness and mobilizing political and public support for policies that enhance soil health, sustainable urban planning and climate adaptation

The session aims to initiate international engagement with members of the International Parliamentary Union ahead of UNCCD COP17 to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2026. This will be an opportunity to inform parliamentarians about opportunities for greater involvement in global negotiations on land and drought issues, as well as potential areas for action and advocacy at the national and regional levels.

Featured speakers

• Ms. Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan (TBC)
• Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UNCCD (video message)
• Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the IPU
• Ms. Inna Modja, UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador 

Panelists

• Ms. Neema Lugangira, Member of the National Assembly of Tanzania
• Mr. Juma Zacharia, Member of the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan of South Sudan
• Mr. António Pedro Roque da Visitação Oliveira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal and Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean 

Moderated by Xenya Scanlon, Head of Communications, External Relations and Partnerships at UNCCD 

The UNCCD Secretariat is looking forward to welcoming you to this event!